African Journal of
Pharmacy and Pharmacology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Pharm. Pharmacol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0816
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJPP
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 2285

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of erythrinaline alkaloids from Erythrina lysistemon on human recombinant caspase-3

Shanta Armwood
  • Shanta Armwood
  • Department of Chemistry and Physics, Elizabeth City State University, 1704 Weeksville Road, Elizabeth City, North Carolina 27909, North Carolina, United States.
  • Search for this author on:
  • Google Scholar
Bernard F. Juma
  • Bernard F. Juma
  • Department of Chemistry, University of Botswana, Private Bag UB 00704, Gaborone, Botswana.
  • Search for this author on:
  • Google Scholar
Japheth O. Ombito
  • Japheth O. Ombito
  • Department of Chemistry, University of Botswana, Private Bag UB 00704, Gaborone, Botswana.
  • Search for this author on:
  • Google Scholar
Runner R. T. Majinda
  • Runner R. T. Majinda
  • Department of Chemistry, University of Botswana, Private Bag UB 00704, Gaborone, Botswana.
  • Search for this author on:
  • Google Scholar
Ephraim T. Gwebu
  • Ephraim T. Gwebu
  • Department of Chemistry and Physics, Elizabeth City State University, 1704 Weeksville Road, Elizabeth City, North Carolina 27909, North Carolina, United States.
  • Search for this author on:
  • Google Scholar


  •  Received: 14 July 2016
  •  Accepted: 18 May 2017
  •  Published: 22 April 2018

Abstract

Prostate cancer is a leading killer disease among men all over the world. Inducing apoptosis (programmed cell death) is a strategic chemotherapeutic approach. Caspase-3 is a key effector of apoptosis, and its activation promotes apoptosis. It was hypothesized that erythrinaline alkaloids activate caspase-3. The alkaloids were isolated from the flowers and pods of Erythrina lysistemon. Their effect on human recombinant caspase-3 was studied. This study reports that three erythrinaline alkaloids (+)-11α-hydroxyerysotrine N-oxide (1), (+)-11β-hydroxyerysotrine N-oxide (2) and (+)-11β-methoxyerysotrine N-oxide (3) activated human recombinant caspase-3 in a dose-dependent manner. Compound 1 and 2 increased the activity by five-fold while compound 3 increased it by ten-fold. Erythrinaline alkaloids exhibit remarkable ability to activate caspase-3 and may be lead compounds as potential therapeutics for the treatment of cancer as inducers of apoptosis in cancer cells.

Key words: Erythrinaline alkaloids, human recombinant caspase-3, apoptosis, prostate cancer.

 

Copyright © 2024 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.

This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

Back to Vol. 12 No. 15
Back to articles
SUBSCRIBE TO RSS
SUBMIT MANUSCRIPT
CONFERENCES